Necessity is the Mother of Invention
by Luke Paul Chandler
Clark Rucker looks at the pending needs of the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans.
By Clark Rucker
In this weekly feature, the top three team needs of two NFL franchises will be highlighted, as will the potential draft solutions to those needs. Many of these needs may also be addressed in free agency, so the draft solutions are subject to change. This week, the spotlight will focus squarely on the needs of two AFC South foes that will be forever interconnected through geography (Houston) and by a certain Vince Young.
The Tennessee Titans are coming off of their first playoff appearance since the days of Eddie George and Steve McNair. The Titans have an upper-echelon defense and an upper-echelon playmaker in Vince Young, but there are still a number of voids on this team that need to be filled before it can be considered a perennial playoff contender.
Meanwhile, the Houston Texans, who passed on hometown hero Vince Young in the 2006 Draft, are coming off of the franchise’s best season at 8-8. There is much to be optimistic about in Houston, yet to truly fulfill the expectations of its fan base, the team must address some of its glaring roster weaknesses.
Tennessee Titans: The Titans got off to one of the hottest starts in the NFL this season, as it relied on a developing running game and a swarming defense that is anchored by Albert Haynesworth and Keith Bullock. However, injuries to Young and Haynesworth caused the team to suffer a significant midseason slump before it regained its form and narrowly made the playoffs. The Titans have the 24th pick in the upcoming draft, and they should be well positioned to address some of their more pressing team needs. It is clear that the teams needs to add speed and “homerun hitting” ability on offense, while also improving the overall athleticism on defense. If these changes can be made, the Titans could challenge the Jaguars and Colts for AFC South supremacy.
• Wide Receiver: Even the most casual fan can tell you that Vince Young needs some playmakers around him, as the current cast of receivers rarely casts fear in the hearts of opposing defenses. While Justin Gage, Roydell Williams, Brandon Jones, and Eric Moulds are serviceable second and third receivers, none of them possess the ability to stretch the field or demand double coverage. The result of this is criticism being directed at the still-developing Young. With the 24th pick, the Titans will likely choose Limas Sweed (Texas), Mario Manningham (Michigan), or Early Doucet (LSU). Sweed makes the most sense here, as he already has some chemistry with Young and he is a taller receiver with speed, which none of the current members of the Titans’ receiving corps possess. In the middle rounds of the draft, Adarius Bowman (Oklahoma State), Devin Thomas (Michigan State), and Andre Caldwell (Florida) will all be available. Thomas is the most intriguing out of the three, as he is the most raw but he also possesses more upside that the other two mid-round options. If the team decides it has more pressing needs that need to be addressed in the first and middle rounds of the draft, the Titans may find a steal in the later rounds in a player like Marcus Monk (Arkansas), Adrian Arrington (Michigan) or Dexter Jackson (Appalachian State). Monk is coming off an injury-marred senior year, but entering the 2007 college football season, he was regarded as one of the better receiving prospects. Jackson makes the most sense here, as even though he is more diminutive than some of the other receiving prospects, he is also a threat in the return game, which is an area the Titans have struggled in with the suspension of Pacman Jones.
• Strong Safety: The Titans have been weak at the safety position for a number of years compared to other teams across the league. The selection of Michael Griffin in the 2007 Draft was the first step toward solidifying the secondary, but there remains a glaring weakness opposite Griffin at strong safety. Calvin Lowry and Donnie Nickey manned the position in 2008, and while serviceable, they were not impact players. If Kenny Phillips (Miami FL) were to fall to the Titans with the 24th pick, selecting him would be a no-brainer, as he is the best safety prospect available in the 2008 Draft. Jamar Adams (Michigan) could also be a possibility. While Adams would be intriguing, his value is not high enough to merit first round selection. Consequentially, look for the Titans to address safety in the middle rounds with a player like DaJuan Morgan (NC State), Tom Zbikowski (Notre Dame) or Marcus Griffin (Texas). The Titans have felt very comfortable drafting University of Texas players over the last few years. Combine that with the presence of Marcus’ older brother Michael on the roster, and it seems like a natural fit for the team. Once again, the Griffin twins would combine forces in the secondary like they did for Texas in 2006. Possible late round selections include the underrated Jamie Silva (Boston College) and the relatively unknown Brian Bonner (TCU). Bonner has not popped up on many national radars, but he quietly produced back to back All-Mountain West Conference performances for the Horned Frogs. He could be a big steal in the sixth or seventh rounds.
• Defensive Tackle: As mentioned above, Haynesworth is one of the most feared interior linemen in the NFL, and his presence on the field opens of opportunities for everyone else. It was clear in 2007 however, that once Haynesworth is off the field, teams are able to exploit the middle of the Titans’ defense, as Randy Starks and Tony Brown are inconsistent at best. To mitigate this effect, it is essential the Titans draft a defensive tackle that can take the pressure off Haynesworth while also becoming a vital cog in the middle of the defensive line. With the 24th pick, the Titans may be able to select Frank Okam (Texas) or Pat Sims (Auburn). Both players are strong against the run and pass. In the middle rounds of the draft, Johnny “Red” Bryant (Texas A&M), DeMario Pressley (NC State) and Dre Moore (Maryland) could all be players that could step into a starting role in Week 1 and become six to ten year stallworts in the middle. Bryant is coming off of a fantastic Senior Bowl week and his stock is soaring. Late round options include Keilan Dykes (West Virginia) and Derek Lokey (Texas). Dykes and Lokey both have the ability to play defensive end and tackle. Furthermore, Lokey is part of the Texas lineage with which the Titans are familiar.
Houston Texans: The Texans have made a complete roster overhaul over the last three offseasons, and the team finally reaped the benefits of some of those shrewd personnel moves in 2007. It remains however that the Texans are in the toughest division in the NFL, and to have a shot at making the playoffs, it needs to continue to upgrade its roster. The offense actually began to represent an NFL offense, as Sage Rosenfels and Matt Schaub proved better than David Carr at the helm, and Kevin Walter, Jacoby Jones, Andre Davis and Owen Daniels proved to be great compliments to the explosive Andre Johnson. Couple that with an improving defensive line and Pro-Bowl linebacker DeMeco Ryans, and you have the makings of an up-and-coming franchise. Here are the most pressing needs for the Texans:
• Running Backs: The Texans have avoided truly addressing this position for a number of years. The team has never had a franchise running back, as it has transited from Jonathan Wells all the way to the current corps of Ahman Green, Ron Dayne and Darius Walker. Dayne has been decent, Green has been injured and Walker went undrafted in 2007. Furthermore, the team has passed on big names like Reggie Bush, Marshawn Lynch, Joseph Addai, etc. With the 18th overall pick, the team is in a great position to draft someone like Jonathan Stewart (Oregon), Rashard Mendenhall (Illinois), Felix Jones (Arkansas) or Jamaal Charles (Texas). All four have better speed than any of the current options on the team, and within a season or two, will be viable threats in the NFL. If the team decides to postpone filling this position of need until the middle rounds, Steve Slaton (West Virginia), Kevin Smith (UCF) and Tashard Choice (Georgia Tech) are all options. Smith has proven that he can carry the load without the possibility of injury, so he may be the best choice out of the three. Later-round names that could start as third down options and transition into future starters include Chauncey Washington (USC), Allen Patrick (Oklahoma) and BenJarvus Green-Ellis (Ole Miss). Washington has feature back written all over him with his size/speed combination, as does Green-Ellis, who is a bigger back who has been fairly successful in the SEC.
• Outside Linebacker: DeMeco Ryans has firmly established himself as the leader of the Texans’ defense, and he should be a force in the middle for years to come. However, with the current tandem of Danny Clark and Morlon Greenwood at outside linebacker, the team is desperately missing a playmaker on the edge. At pick 18, Keith Rivers (USC) and Shawn Crable (Michigan) could be available, and each would likely become an immediate starter. If the team addresses another of its needs with its first round pick, it may be best served by selecting someone like Geno Hayes (Florida State), Erin Henderson (Maryland) or Ali Highsmith (LSU) in the middle rounds. Each of these three has top-tier speed for the linebacker position. To build up its special teams and provide increased depth, late round picks like Jordon Dizon (Colorado) and Tavares Gooden (Miami FL) look like good gambles.
• Safety: Since the Texans’ inaugural season, the team has lacked a proven playmaker/ballhawk at safety. C.C. Brown and Will Demps currently man the safety spots, with the once promising Michael Boulware providing depth. Expect Boulware to eventually reestablish himself as an up and coming safety, but that still leaves a glaring hole at the other safety position. If Kenny Phillips (Miami FL) were to fall to the Texans at pick 18, there is little doubt the team would snatch him up as quickly as possible. After Phillips however, there is not a safety that merits consideration in the middle of the first round. If Phillips is gone, look for the team to address safety in the middle rounds by drafting someone like Marcus Griffin (Texas) or Craig Steltz (LSU). Griffin is very strong against the run, while Steltz is the ultimate ball-hawk. Just like with outside linebacker, the team will likely draft another safety or two in the later rounds to establish depth and bolster their special teams, so do not be surprised if the team drafts someone like D.J. Wolfe (Oklahoma) and Jonathan Hefney (Tennessee). Hefney is a prospect on the rise, as teams seem to be willing to overlook his lack of size after a strong week at the Senior Bowl.
If you have any questions or comments, please send an email to clark@newerascouting.com.